Abstract：Abstract CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α（C/EBPα） gene plays a key role in the process of adipocyte differ- entiation, which is also an important candidate gene for growth and body composition traits. In the current study, polymorphisms of 5′region, coding sequence and 3′region of C/EBPα were detected by sequencing the 9th and 10th population of a designed resource population, the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines (Gallus gallus) divergently selected for abdominal fat percentage (NEAUHLF). A silent mutation (c.*552G>A) was found at base 552 of the coding sequence. Association analysis indicated that the mutation was significantly related to abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat percentage, liver weight, liver weight percentage, metatarsus circle and shank weight (P<0.05). The abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat percentage of birds with AA genotype were significantly higher than those with GG genotype (P<0.05), and the liver weight, liver weight percentage, metatarsus circle and shank weight femur length of birds with GG genotype were significantly higher than those with AA genotype (P<0.05). The conclusion was drawn that C/EBPα gene can be or link to a major gene that affects fat deposition and skeletal development traits in chickens.
